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Jennycliff

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Jennycliff
Jennycliff, high above the eastern side of Plymouth Sound, is a beautiful area of woodland, scrub, beach and cliffs, covering 11.3 hectares stretching from Mount Batten to the South Hams. It’s a favourite starting point for walkers, with or without dogs, who often follow the South West Coast Path. Easily accessible by road, there’s a large car park with public toilets, as well as the popular Jennycliff Cafe which overlooks the Sound and the Plymouth Breakwater.
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Jennycliff Cafe sits on the former site of Lord Howard’s Battery which was built in 1909 to defend merchant ships anchored in Plymouth Sound and to cover the access to Devonport Dockyard. The guns were removed by the mid 30s but two new 6 inch Breech loading guns were mounted there in 1941 during the Second World War. These guns were removed in 1946 and the gun emplacements were later filled in. Despite the fact that most of the surface buildings have been demolished, there is still plentiful evidence of the fact that the battery once stood there.
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The views from Jennycliff are arguably the best in the Plymouth area. You can see as far as Kingsand and Cawsand, over to Mount Edgcumbe estate where you may also see the Cremyll ferry, Smeaton Tower on Plymouth Hoe, the waterfront at Plymouth Barbican, Mount Batten Tower looming over the anglers on Mount Batten breakwater fishing for their supper, as well as most of Plymouth.
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To get to Jennycliff from Plymouth, you need to take the road south out to Plymstock and then on through Hooe until you come to the left-hand turning sign-posted to the site. There is a one-way road system providing access to Jennycliff, effectively encircling Fort Stamford which houses a sports centre where customers can play squash and badminton or use the gym (see later in this article for more details on Fort Stamford).
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Plymouth Council manages the site which is designated a County Wildlife Site due to the fact that several endangered plant species grow in the area. These include pale St John’s Wort, maidenhair fern, dwarf elder, and round-leaved crane’s bill. Aside from rare plants, Jennycliff in Plymouth is also home to a number of notable species of spiders, woodlice and beetles. Jennycliff is also part of Plymouth Sound, shores and cliffs Site of Special Scientific Interest, since many fossils have been found amongst the Jennycliff Slates in Jennycliff Bay.

The South West Coast Path passes through Jennycliff from north to south. Part of the National Trail and indicated by the traditional acorn symbol on large stone markers, the South West Coast Path runs from Minehead to Poole harbour, some 630 miles in total. If you cross the road from the car park and climb the hill to the left, you will find a tall blue pillar informing walkers that it is 175.5 miles to Poole. This also marks the end of the Waterfront Walkway Path which starts at Admiral Hard in Stonehouse and was created in 2002 by Plymouth City Council.
Fort Stamford Health and Fitness centre is situated on Stamford Road and anyone heading away from Jennycliff towards Plymouth cannot help but pass it. For those looking hoping to improve their fitness, the site boasts a well-equipped facilities including: air-conditioned gym, Plymouth tennis courts, Plymouth table tennis, a swimming pool in Plymouth, and the biggest Plymouth squash centre. There is also a licensed bar for the adults and a fun fort and crèche for youngsters. The bar and lounge area with large screen TV is open to non-members.
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